Storm Winds Down, but Keep an Eye on Rivers

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RALEIGH — The flood watch was cancelled, and the screen on WRAL's Doppler 5000 radar was significantly less green Wednesday night. It was a welcome respite from the two to three inches of problem-causing rain that has doused the entire state.

However, things aren't so sunny in Wayne County. The National Weather Service says that the Neuse River at Goldsboro will crest to 24 feet above flood stage on Saturday. Authorities asked some residents in rural Wayne County homes to leave, because those homes would soon become part of the river.

Raleigh's rain-swollen Crabtree Creek spilled over its banks, into parking lots, and other low spots Wednesday. Fortunately, the water reached few roads.

But the high water has forced about tenschool delays. Kids in areas like Nash County, Robeson County, and Sampson County will enjoy an hour or two of extra sleep Thursday morning.

To the west, mountain residents are grateful that they got a break from the latest storm. Precipitation came mostly in the form of rain or sleet -- not snow. After all, they're still digging out from the two feet of snow that fell on them last week. Nevertheless, the mountains could still be in for some bad flooding by the time the storm moves on and the lingering snow melts.

On the coast, folks are also breathing a sigh of relief. In some places, the high winds and waves took a considerable bite out of the beach. Heavy erosion was reported at hurricane-battered Shell Island, as well as Wrightsville Beach. However, this storm didn't develop into the monster that some forecasters predicted.

What's to come? WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel says that we can expect some more light rain Thursday. Lingering clouds will dominate the sky Friday, and he's still not so sure about the weekend. A developing storm in the Gulf of Mexico may result in a less-than-spectacular Saturday and Sunday.